BE HEARD
The level of incidence of significant mental health issues among post-secondary students is a widely documented problem. One of the greatest challenges in addressing this issue is the silence that still surrounds mental health. Students are often reluctant to share their experience of mental health crises even with their friends which can have devastating consequences. Mental health support makes all the difference for them.
Our goal is to help reduce stigma around mental health and to build a dialogue within our community that is active and accessible. This initiative is inspired by the challenges that students face in maintaining their mental health. We seek to provide a tool that will be of assistance to our students with the goal of achieving greater levels of well-being.
Storyvoice is an ARIF research project; it is a mental wellness initiative. It is hosted online by Centennial College. We publish a variety of creative works from students, that are all themed to mental health issues. This content includes visual art, video, audio and written word, which are accompanied by artist statements. Students can participate anonymously if they wish. Stay up to date on new student stories by joining our mailing list or following us on social media.
When you share stories about mental health, others listen and can be helped. Be heard.
About the Research Project
You are being asked to participate in a research study and a very short survey. By continuing on the site you will be giving your consent. Before you give your consent, it is important that you read the following information and ask as many questions as necessary to be sure that you understand what you will be asked to do.
Investigators: Anthony Harrison and Lisa Binnie
Purpose of the study: The goal of Storyvoice is to open up discussion about mental wellness, as well as provide links to supports offered by Centennial College and supports and services in your community.
Description of the study: Storyvoice is a platform hosting an ongoing visual art dialogue of students’ experience of mental health. The site functions as a safe curated space without judgment, and includes the offer of counseling support. Art has a long therapeutic tradition. We can utilize this powerful aspect of art to make the process of communicating mental health issues easier for students who are often reticent individuals. On the site itself along with the visual art content and artist statements will be the links to CALCS’ (Center for Assessment Learning Counseling Services) services for site users. This project is studying the direct correlation between the expression of a mental health challenge and access to CALCS by tracking anonymized viewers’ click throughs, and optional responses to this anonymous survey.
The anonymous survey will take approximately 3 minutes to complete. You may exit at any time by closing the tab or browser window.
Risks and benefits: There are no expected risks associated with this study. You are not expected to personally benefit by participating in the study, however you will be contributing to this study that aims to open up discussion about mental wellness, and link students to appropriate supports.
Voluntary nature of participation: This is an anonymous study. Neither college administration or faculty will know whether or not you participate in the study. Participation is voluntary. If you participate, you can refuse to answer any questions or withdraw from the study at any time.
Confidentiality: All information on the site is password protected. Only the researchers will have access to the data. Once data collection is complete, any identifying information will be removed from the file. The data will be stored in a locked cabinet in the principle investigator’s office for seven years after the study is completed, following which it will be shredded. All data will be reported as group data. No individual will be identified in any report
Questions about the study: If you have any questions about the study, please feel free to contact the study’s principle investigator: Anthony Harrison by e-mail at storyvoice.info@gmail.com. If you would like a copy of the final report, please email Anthony Harrison.
If you have any questions about your rights as a research participant or the conduct of the study and wish to speak to someone who is not associated with the study, please contact Sowmya Kishore, Chair of the Centennial Ethics Committee at 416-289-5000 x 54003 or skishore@centennialcollege.ca.